Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 196
196 mother’s wish that he offers himself for waqf never left his mind. Thus , a woman cannot only offer sacrifice s herself , but can also prepare men to serve religion. In the era of the Holy Prophet sa , the Muslim forces once confronted the Christian forces. The Christian forces were much stronger, and the Muslim forces were weak. Hence the [Muslim forces] could not withstand the onslaught and as a result the animal rides of the Muslim soldiers turned around in retreat. The commander of the Muslim forces was Yazid b in Abu Sufyān and his father, Abu Sufyān , was also with him. They also retreated. Behind the Muslim army were the Muslim women, among whom Abu Sufyān ’s wife, Hi nd, was also present. B efore accepting Islam , she h arbored such animosity against Islam that in the battle whe re Ha z rat Hamza ra was martyred, she put out a reward for anyone who would take out his liver for her. When Hind saw that the Muslim army had lost its footing and were retreating , she gathered all the women together and said to them, ‘Your men have betrayed Islam and have run away from the enemy. Now it is your duty to stop them. ’ The women said, ‘We don’t have any weapons. How can we stop them?’ She said, ‘Take apart the tents and pull out the rods and stakes and hit the camels or horses of any of the retreating soldiers until the animals turn back [towards the battlefield] a nd say to them, ‘O you shameles s , go back and fight the enemy. If you are not able to do that , then we the women will face the enemy. ’ And this is exactly what happened. When the Muslim army reached near the women, [the women] took out the sticks and rods from the tents and began to hit the faces of the animals. Hind also took a stick and hit Abu Sufyān ’s ride and said, ‘O shameless! When the disbeliever s of M ecca would go to attack Islam , you used to command their forces and now after becoming a Muslim , you have to fight for Islam and you are running away ! ’ In the same way, she also hit her son’s ride and scolded him for cowardly behavior. Abu Sufyān ’s sense of honor was also awakened, and he said to his son, Yazid, ‘Let u s go back. No doubt the Christian forces are much stronger than us but being killed by them will be more bearable than being beaten by these women. ’ Thus , the Muslim army returned to the battlefield and then God Almighty gave them victory.